Vernal Hanging Parrot

Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis seen well at its nest site in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand where we had excellent views in good light. Some of the key identification features can be seen in the photo including the green back, wings and tail, red rump, white eye and orange bill. It is a beautiful and tiny parrot somewhat smaller than a House Sparrow Passer domesticus.

It is a wholly arboreal species spending most of the day feeding in the tops of tall trees. In flight, it has short rapid wing beats followed by a brief pause resulting in Woodpecker like undulations. It is very agile clambering about in trees using its beak and feet and sometimes hangs upside down.

Reference: Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1998), Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd., p.418.

Vernal Hanging Parrot is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and some other areas of South-east Asia. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet. They frequent the Banyan tree for the fruit and Plantain trees for the nectar from the flowers. Vernal Hanging Parrot is a bird of dry jungle and cultivation. It nests in holes in trees, laying 2-4 white eggs. Immature birds have a duller rump, and lack the throat patch. It is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually in small groups outside the breeding season.

Reference: Wikipedia